Tape feeding device for sewing machines



y 8, 1956 E. H. BLITTSCHAU 2,744,481

TAPE FEEDING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 15, 1954 INVENTOR. Edward h. 5/l'zzschc u 4 7' TOR/VEYS United States Patent This invention relates to improvements in tape feeding devices for sewing machines.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved tape feeding device adapted to be mounted on the table of a sewing machine, by means of which moistened gummed binding tape may be fed beneath the needle of the sewing machine, onto sheets of paper on the table to sewed together to form the pages of a book, so

that the tape can be simultaneously stitched and glued to the paper to serve as reinforcement for the folded portion of the book to which the cover of the book is to be glued.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description considered in conjunction with the attached drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device of the present invention shown as mounted upon the table of a conventional type sewing machine.

Figure 2 is a detail view of the standard supported binding tape roll of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 33 of Figure l on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of Figure 5 on a reduced scale. 1

Figure 5 is a view taken along the line 55 of Figure 4 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a book which has been reinforced through the addition of a sewn strip of binding tape by use of the device of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in more detail, numeral 1 designates generally a conventional type sewing machine, including a table 2 and a vertically reciprocating, thread-carrying needle 3 positioned above the table 2. A binding tape feeding device, embodying the parts hereinafter described, is mounted on the table 2.

Secured to the underside of the table 2, is a well generally designated 4. The well 4 consists of a trough 5 open at its top and a pair of end walls 6 which rise above the trough and are connected to the underside of the table 2 by screws 7 which pass through outwardly flanged end portions 8 of the ends 6 and are embedded in the table 2 to hold the well 4 in depending relation thereto. One end portion of the trough 5 is divided into two cornparttnents 9 and 10 by a transverse partition 11 extending transversely across the trough 5 adjacent one of the end walls 6 and the longitudinal partition 12 extending from the partition 11 to the adjacent end wall 6, intermediate their ends. An aperture 24 extends through the partition 11 to connect the compartment 9 to the unpartitioned portion of the trough 5. A liquid applying element or sponge 13 is positioned within the compartment 9 and has a surface projecting above the top of the trough 5. The unpartitioned interior portion of the trough 5 is partially filled with water which is communicated to the sponge 13 through the aperture 24, keeping the sponge moist.

A guide means 14 is positioned on one side of the liquid applying element 13 and is carried by the trough 5 of the well 4. The guide means 14 embodies a plate having a pair of upstanding spaced fingers 15 projecting above the top of the trough 5 and the portion therebetween 16 is rolled downwardly to cover the edge of the trough 5 and form a tape-receiving slot 26. A feed roller 17 is carried by the well 4 on the other side of the liquid applying element 13 and is spaced above the top of the trough 5 of the well 4. The roller 17 is rotatably supported upon the horizontally extending portion of a rod 18 which is rigidly secured at one end to one of the upwardly extending ends 6 and the other end portion of the rod 18 is bent downwardly and fixedly secured to the adjacent side of the trough 5. The rod 18 has enlarged portions 19 adjacent either side of the roller 17 to keep the roller 17 positioned centrally upon the horizontal portion of the rod 18. A second guide means 20 is arranged in cooperative relation with respect to the feed roller 17 and is carried by the table 2. The second guide means 20 embodies an upstanding plate having a pair of spaced portions 22 projecting above the table 2 and the portion therebetween cutaway to form a tape receiving slot 23.

A rotatable roll of gummed binding tape 27 is positioned adjacent the table 2, being supported upon a standard 28, adapted to rest upon any suitable flat surface. The free end portion of the tape 27 extends through the guide means 14, over the projecting surface of the liquid applying element 13, under the feed roller 17, through the second guide means 20 and over the table 2 beneath the thread-carrying needle 3. The tape 27 is gummed 'uponone side only and is passed over the liquid applying element 13 with the gummed side facing downwardly so that it is mostened as it passes over the liquid applying element 13.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the device of the present invention affords a means of serving a continuous strip of gummed binding tape beneath the needle of a sewing machine. This function is particularly useful in the making of paper bound books of the kind customarily used for bank books, pass books, lodge books, etc. Such books consist essentially of a plurality of stacked sheets of paper sewed together along a line equidistant from their ends and folded along the sewed line. A cover of thicker paper is usually attached by gluing to the exposed face of the outer of the folded sheets. Books assembled in this manner tend to tear quickly at the folded portion and pull loose from the cover in the course of use. To overcome this weakness, the makers of such books usually add a gummed reinforcing strip at the fold, after the book has been sewed, in an additional opera tion involving expensive machinery or hand work. The present invention makes it possible to perform both operations at one time with an inexpensive attachment to the conventional sewing machine.

In using the device of the present invention the gummed tape 27 is passed through the guide 14 and over the sponge 13 where it is moistened on the gummed side. It then passes around the roller 17 and up through the guide 20 to the top of the table 2 where it is placed longitudinally beneath the center of the lowest of a plurality of sheets of paper 29 being made into a book, along the line to be sewed and with the gummed side up. When the sheets are now run through the machine, the sheets are sewed together and the binding tape is stitched upon the outer face of the lower sheet. Moreover, the pressure of the sewing operation is sufiicient to cause the gummed surface of the tape to adhere to the adjacent sheet so that the tape is doubly secured to the sheets. When the sheets are folded to form a book, the tape reinforces the folded portion, as shown in Figure 4. It also reinforces the sheet to which a cover 30 is to be glued, helping to resist the tendency of that sheet to become torn in the course of use allowing the cover to become separated from the rest of the book.

What is claimed is:

17 In a tape moistening device, a trough having 'an open top, side walls, and end walls having portions rising above said side walls, said side *walls involving a first side wall and a second side wall, said end wall portions having means for supportable connection to a support, a guide roller mounted on and positioned above said first side wall, a compartment within said trough in transverse alignment with said roller, a liquid applying element in said compartment "having an upper end 'projecting'a'bove said side walls, said trough being arranged to 'contain a liquid and said compartment having means providing for transfer'of liquid from the trough into said compartment, a'tape guide mounted on said second side wall and projecting thereabove in transverse alignment with said liquid applying element.

2. In a tape moistening device, a trough having an open top, side walls, and end walls having portions risingabove said side Walls, said side walls involving 'a first side wall and a second sidewall, said end wall portions having means for supportable connection to a support, a guide roller mounted on and positioned above said first side wall,'a compartment within said trough in transverse alignment with said roller, a liquid applying element in said compartment having an upper end projecting above said side walls, saidtrough being arranged to contain a liquid and said compartment having means providing for transfer of liquid from the trough into said compartment, a tape guide mounted on said second side wall and projecting thereabove in transverse alignment with said liquid applying element, 'a tape roll outside of and below the trough at'the second side wall thereof having a tape threaded through said guide engaging the upper end of the liquid applying element and trained under said roller.

3. In a tape moistening device, a trough having an open 'top, 'side walls, and end walls having "portions rising above said side walls, said side walls involving a first side wall and a second side wall, said end wall portions having means for supportable connection to a support, a guide roller mounted on and positioned above said first side wall, a compartment within said trough in transverse alignment with said roller, a liquid applying element in said compartment having an upper end projecting above said side walls, said trough being arranged to contain a liquid and said compartment having means providingfor transfer :of liquid from the trough into said compartment, a tape guide mounted on said second side wall and projecting thereabove in transverse alignment with said liquid applying element, a tape roll outside of and below the trough at the second side wall thereof having a tape threaded through said guide engaging the upper-.end of the liquid applying element and trained under said roller, and a sewing machine having a table and tape moving means, said table having an underside and said portions of the trough end walls being secured to the underside of the table, another tape guide on the table between the tape moving means and said roller and positioned above the roller with the tape rising from the roller and extending through said other guide to the tape movingmeans.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 909,608 Kershner 'Jan. 12, 1909 937,313 Lothrop Oct. 19, 1909 1,463,262 Gray July 31, 1923 2,570,544 Guerra Oct. 9, 1951 2,653,559 Picucci Sept. 29, 1953 

